Vehicle-lamp.



C. GODEY.

VEHICLE LAMP.

APPLICATION PILLD JULY 13. 1914.

I25@@9 Patenteaaan. 19, 191.5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

guur/14450@ y CHARLES E. G'ODLEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-LAMP..

lSpecification of Letters Patent.

'Patented dan. 19, 1915.-

Application filed July 13, 1914. Serial No. 850,629.

Be it known that l, CHARLES E. GronnnrA a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michi an, have invented .a new and Improved Vehlcle-Lamp, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to a lamp, more particularly to a tail-lamp for vehicles; and

its object is-to' provide'means whereby a colored or warningzlight may be projected directly lback from the vehicle, and aclear or white light may be projected rearwardly and downwardly upon the surface of the roadway; also to provide a mutual relation of lamp and license-tag supportsuch that the tag will bebrightly illuminated.

This invention-consists* in the details of construction shown and described, and par# ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is affront elevation of the lamp shwing'th'e license-tag in position in respect thereto. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-.2of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line'33 of Fig. 1. Fig. t is a rear view ofthe parts shown in Fig. 'l when detached from the support. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the connection between the back of the lamp and the lamp body and the means for preventing the transparent sheet from buckling. F ig. 6 is a fragmentary section correspon ing to the lower portion of Fig. 2 and showing a modified construction.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout theseveralfviews.

In the embodiment shown, 1 indicates any desired form of support that may-be carried at the rear of a 'motor vehicle. `1nclosing the support on three sides is the U- sha-ped bracket member 2, the ends of which project through ol nings in the vbracket member 3, with w ich the fourth' side of the supportl is engaged, and are bent over as indicated at 4. The ends ofthe member 3 are, in-tnrn, secured to the back 5 of a. lamp by means of the boltsY or rivets 6, or in any other preferred manner; and the member 2 is provided with av set screw 7 by which the partsmay be clamped to the support 1.

The 'lamp-back or reflector compri'ses a central portion 8, that may bej'planeas shown or curved, theupper edge of which merges into a sharpl 'curved portion 9, the lower edge and the sides of the central: por-j |inclined position to a horizontal line. The lower lportion is cut away to form opention merginglinto theportion 12, the curva-3 ture of which, as compared' with that of the portion 9, is preferably slight. The lanipback 5 extends "forwardly from the curved portions 9 and 12 in the form of a tubular edge 13, each side'portion of which is prferably provided with aI laterally extending"- lug lil; and to the inner surface of the upper centralportion of the edge 13 a threaded nut 15 maybe soldered'or' otherwise secured. The edgev 13 lhas also projectin therefrom"v the lugs 16 that may be vincline tothe axis cf theytubular edge 13, as best shown lightly inclosing the edge 13 is the rear# wardly extepding'edge 17 'of the 'lampv body lgixs'aid edge being perforated .to receive;

the lugs 14 on the back 12, and also.` being-i" perforated toallow the passage of f'scew 19 ,thatextendsz throughthe edge 13 and is received in the nut 15. Other lmeans of connecting the lamp body to vthe backma'y' be used, but-I prefer the means just described for the reason that it is easilyl connected or disconnected, is cheap, eifectually prevents rattling ,and excludes' dust. upper element of the lamp body, in the embodiment shown, extends forward substantiallywhorizontally asl indicated in Fig. 2, whereas the elements of the lower hal are sharply inclined upwardly and inwardly, and those ofthe upper lateral portions or shoulders gradually change from the sharply ings 21, t e opposite edges of which are joined at intervals by the strips 22. These openings are closed by a transparent sheet 23, preferably celluloid, the inner ed e of which may .register with the end o the tubularportion 13 of the back, being` retained .against the inner surface offl the amp body and prevented frombuckling by the lugsl6. The outer'edge of the trans arent the curved strip 24 that is secured to the body and extends inwardly a slight `dis-v tance.. The transparent sheet 23 extends up the sides of the lamp body to. a point mdrcated by the line 25 (Fig. 2), and is secured thereto by the screws 26 and the nuts 27.

' The outer end ofthe lamp-body may be provided with an inwardly extending circumferential bead'3Q,that constitutes a seat' for'. a colored (preferably rubly) lens 31; and from this bead the'materia ofthebody The sheet iSl received between the lamp,` bo y and' Sti the curve extends forwardly to rnorm an outwardly turned bead 32, between which and the outer surface of the lens is received a resilientlens-securing wire 33, one end of the latter preferably being curved, as indicatedV at 34:, to provide for the insertion ol' a pointed instrument whereby the wire may be removed from its seat. While this means of securing the lens in the lamp body is'simple andiecient, it should be understood that various other means may be employed without departing from the general scope of my invention. z Projecting forward atan angle from the baclr of the lamp is a sleeve 36 through which passes an ordinary electric lamp socket 37 that supports an' electric lamp bulb 38. The soclret is rovided `at its rear endwith any approve form of connector 39 from which the circuit wires (not shown) extend' to a convenient source of current.- The member3 may be curved downwardly at 4l to reinforce the back of the lamp, the lower end being extended laterally at 42 and provided with the slots 43 through which the bolts at mayv extend to adjustably support the license tag 45, that may also be providedwith the slots 4:6 if desired ll nd it desirable in certain instances to corrugate the lower inner surface of vthe redector transversely as shown at t7 in Fig. 6, thus providing fora more 'eHicient distribution of light than is obtained with the curved surface alone.

Operation: 'llhe filament of the lamp bulb is arranged substantially in the axis of the colored lens 3l, and from the latter light coming directly from vthe lament, together with some of the4 light redected from lthe central portion 8 of the redector, is projected rearwardly from the vehicle. Light coming directly from the lament, as well as light .redected from the upper portion ont the lamp body, passes downwardly through the transparent sheet 23 and illuminates the -license tag; while some ot the light redected from the central portion of the redector, and a large pro ortion of the light reflected from portion l2, is projected rearwardly to illuminate the roadway directly behind the vehicle and at both sides thereof.

lt is-olerious that various changes may be made in the details of my construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. ll do not,ltheretore, wish to be limited otherwise than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

amaca@ body in which said member is supported, the upper portion of said lampbody being substantially cylindrical, the lower and the side portions ot' said lamp body flaring outwardly from the vicinity of the colored member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and 'rearwardly to illuminate the surface of the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lampback to which the body is connected, said lamp-back being adapted to reflect light and comprising a central portion that merges into portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides, said bottom and side portions serving to reflect light rearwardly from the vehicle through the opening inthe lamp body, the upper portion of the lamp body serving to reflect light downwardly through the opening in the lamp body, and a source of light located in the lamp body.

2. A tail light for vehicles comprising a colored member through -which light may pass rearwardly from the vehicle, a lamp 'body in which said member is supported, the upper portion of said lamp body being substantially cylindrical, the lower and the side portions of said lamp body flaring outwardly from the vicinity of the colored member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and rearwardly to illuminate the surface of the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lamp-back to which the body is connected, said lamp-back being adapted to reflect light merges into portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides, said bottom and side portions servingv to reflect light rearwardly from the vehicle-through the opening'in the lamp body, the upper portion of the lamp body serving to reflect light downwardly through the opening in the lamp body, a tag and comprising a central portion that u bearing Icharacters, means for supporting the tag beneath theopening in such position that some of the light passing through the opening falls thereon andis reflected rearwardly therefrom, and a source of light located in the lamp body.

3. A tail light for vehicles comprising colored member through which light may f pass rearwardly from the vehicle, Y a lamp body in which said member is supported, the upper portion of said lamp body being substantially cylindrical, the lower andthe side portions of said lamp body llaring outwardly from the vicinity of the colored member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and rearwardly to illuminate the surface of the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lamp-back to which the body is connected, said lamp-back being adapted to redect light and comprising a central portion that merges into portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides and also merging into hicle through the opening in the lampbddy,

the upper portion of the lamp body serving to reflect light downwardly through the opening in the lamp body, and a source of light located in the lamp body.

4. A lampv comprising a colored member 'through whichl light may pass in a given general direction, a lamp body in which said 4member is supported', the lower and the side portions ofsaid lamp body being of substantially frusto-conicalform, and having an opening through which light may pass, the smaller base being located adjacent the colored member, a transparent closure for the opening, a reflector secured to the lamp body, said reflector comprising a central portion and side and bottom portions of slight curvature, Aand a source of light positioned in the lamp body, said curved side and bottom portions of the redector being arrangedto project light in the 'same general direction as it is projected through the colored member, and the source of light being so positioned that portions of the light emanating therefrom pass laterally through the opening in the lamp body in a general direction at substantially right angles to the direction in which' light passes through the colored member.

5. A lamp comprising two members, one

a' lamp body and the other a reflector, said lamp body having one end considerably smaller than the other and flaring from the p smaller to the larger end, a lateral ,opening in the flaring portion, a lens `supported in the small end of the lamp body, the reector the mp body, and comprising a central portion, part-of which merges into slightly curved outer portions, a source of light in the lamp body, said slightly curved portions of the reflector being so positioned lthat light falling thereon is projected through the opening in the lamp body substantially parallel to the light which passes from the source through the lens, and the Vsource of light being so positioned that light Valso passes laterally through the opening in the lamp body in a direction at substantially right angles to the light whici.A passes through the lens. 'e

6. ln a lamp, a reflector, a bracket'member rigidly secured to the reflector and having perforated portions spaced therefrom, a U-shaped bracket member the ends of which pass through theperforations in the first mentioned bracket member and whereby the two bracket members are rigidly secured v together, and a set iscrew passing through one of the members for clamping the members to a support.

7. A lamp comprising a colored member being positioned to close the larger end of through whichv light may pass in a` given general direction, va lampbody in which saidmember is supported, the lower and.

the side portions of said'lamp body being of substantially frusto-conical form and having an opening through which light may pass, the smaller base being located adjacent the colored member, -a reiector closing the larger base 'of the lamp body and having lugs projecting therefrom, said lugs being spaced angularly from each other and also being spaced slightly from the inner surface of thelamp body, a retainer projectingv from the smaller end of the lamp-body and spaced slightly from the inner surface thereof, and a transparent sheet closing the opening in the lamp'body, one edge Iof the sheetbeing received between the retaining member and the inner surface of the lamp lbody and the opposite edge being received between the lugson the reflector and the inner surface of the lamp body, whereby the closure is retained'in position and prevented from buckling.

8. A lamp for motor vehicles'comprising a concentrated source of light, a casing, a lens supported in the casing and arranged to project some of the light rearwardly therefrom in substantially parallel colored beams, a transparent member supported byV the casing, a plurality of reflecting surfaces one of which is arranged to project light supported in proximity to the casing,` one of the reflecting surfaces being arranged to project light vfrom the source through the transparent lmember in a direction substantially parallel to that which passes through the lens, and another of the reflecting surfaces being arranged to project light through the transparent member in a plane at substantially right angles to the direction in which the light passes through the lens, whereby the tag'is illuminated.

10. A lamp for motor vehicles comprising an electric lamp bulb having a filament therein, 'a casing inclosing the bulb, a lens supported in the casing and arran ed to project some ofthe light from the fi ament rearwardly .from the casing insubstantially parallel colored beams, a transparent memer supported by the casing, a plurality of reflecting surfaces oneof which is arranged to project light from the filament through the transparent melnber in rearwardly directed rays that are adapted to illuminate the surface of the. ground somewhat to the rear ofthe vehicle, and another of which is arranged to project light through the transparent member in a plane at substantially right angles torthe direction in which the light passes through the lens, whereby the lamp is rendered visible from the side of the vehicle.

11. A tail light for vehicles comprising a member through which colored light may pass rearwardly from the vehicle, a lamp body in which said member is supported,

the upper portion of said'lamp body being substantially cylindrical, the lower and the side portions of said lamp body flaring outwardly lfrom the vicinity of the member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and rearwardly to illuminate the surface of the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lamp-back to which the body is connected, said lampback being adaptedl to reect light and comprising a central portion that merges into `portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides, Isaid .bottom and side portions serving to reflect light rearwardly from the vehicle through the opening in the lamp body, the upper portion of the lamp body serving toredect light downwardly through the opening in the' lamp body, and a source of light located in the lamp body,`

l2., A tail light for vehicles comprising Aav member through which light may pass rearwardly from the vehicle, a lamp body in which said member is supported, the up-'- per portion of saidlamp body being substantially cylindrical, the lower and the side portions. of said lamp' body daring outwardly from the vicinity of the member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and rearwardly to illuminate the surface of `the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lampback to which the body is connected, said lamp-back being adapted to reflect light and comprising a central portion that merges into portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides, said bottom and side portions serving tol reilect. light rearwardly from the vehicle through the opening in the lamp body, the upper portion of the lamp body serving lto reflect light downwardlyv through the opening in the lamp body, a tag bearing characters, means for supporting i toY the tag beneath the opening in such position that some of the light passing through the arenoso:

'openingfalls thereon and is redected rearupper portion of said lamp body being substantiallycylindrical, the lower and the side portions of said .lampl body daring outwardly from the vicinity ofthe member and having an opening through which light may pass downwardly and rearwardly to illuminate the surface of the roadway, a transparent closure for the opening, a lampbaclr to which the body is connected, said lamp-back being adapted to reflect light andcomprising a central portion that merges into portions of slight curvature at the bottom and sides and also merging into a portion of relatively sharpcurvature at the top, said bottom and side portions serving to reflect light rearwardly from the vehicle through the opening in the lamp body, the upper portion of the lamp body serving to reflect light downwardly through the opening in the lamp body, and a source of light located in the lamp body. A

ld. A lamp comprising a member through which light may `pass in a given general direction, a lamp body in which said member is supported, the lower and the side portions of said lamp body being of substantially frusto-eonical form, and having an opening through which light may pass, the smaller base being located adjacent the member, a transparent closure 'for the opening, a redector secured to thel lamp body,

said reflector comprising a central portion and side and bottom portions of slight curvature, and a source of light positioned in the lamp body, ysaid curved side andbottom portions of the redector being arranged to project light in the same general'direction as it is projected through the rst mentioned i member, and the source of light being so positioned that portions of the light emanating therefrom pass laterally through the 

